Chapter 258

Chapter 258 The rumors spreading through the manor were certainly connected to Consort Sun. Now that both Xie Run and Consort Sun managed the household together, there were bound to be differing opinions between them at times. Just as Consort Sun hoped the Princess Consort would lose this pregnancy—ideally with both mother and child perishing—Xie Run wanted nothing more than to save the Princess Consort's life. At this thought, she raised a hand to rub her temples. "Dantao, grind the ink for me. I'll write another letter to urge Eldest Sister along." Xie Run's speculation proved true. Xie Jiang's journey back was comparable to a pilgrimage to the Western Heaven—every town she passed presented a rare medical case, forcing her to stay for a period of time. Stop and go, stop and go—what should have been a two or three day journey hadn't even reached a third of the way yet. Xie Run thought she couldn't simply leave it all to fate. In early April, Taotao would be celebrating her first birthday. Xie Run didn't plan anything extravagant—just two tables prepared at Spring Mountain Court for a bit of lively celebration. After dealing with the managing matron, Xie Run brought her people to the main kitchen to check on the dishes being prepared for Taotao's birthday. On the way back, passing by Flying Crane Pavilion, she heard the sound of an argument. Xie Run looked up. "What's going on?" Dantao immediately sent a young maid to investigate. Soon, the Eldest Young Master was brought over. Seeing the Eldest Young Master, Xie Run felt somewhat dazed—she almost didn't recognize him. Ever since he had kicked and beaten the pregnant Fang Yuan'er a year ago, provoking Prince Jing's fury, he had never been seen in the inner courtyard again. Everyone knew that Prince Jing had kept him in the front courtyard for "instruction"—and in some ways, perhaps abandonment. "It's been a while—the Eldest Young Master has grown thinner and taller." The Eldest Young Master kept his head lowered, his expression unreadable, refusing to look up at Xie Run. The Eldest Young Master now radiated a heavy, brooding aura—a stark contrast to the boy who had once screamed for Fang Yuan'er's blood at Orchid Fragrance Court. The wet nurse tugged at the Eldest Young Master's sleeve and said softly, "Eldest Young Master, this is Consort Xie. You must offer your respects." The Eldest Young Master remained motionless, head bowed low, acting as if he hadn't heard. Xie Run didn't bother holding a grudge against a child. She simply asked, "What were you arguing about just now?" The wet nurse hurriedly replied, "It was this servant's fault." "I saw the weather had cleared up and wanted the Eldest Young Master to change into a thinner set of clothes, but he refused and ran off." "This servant said a few extra words and angered the Eldest Young Master." Hearing this, the Eldest Young Master lifted his eyes to glance at the wet nurse—his gaze dark and heavy, utterly unlike the eyes of a child. Even Xie Run felt a chill at the sight. What on earth had this boy been taught over the past year? Seeing that look, Xie Run found the whole matter distasteful and only wanted to keep her distance from the Eldest Young Master. The Eldest Young Master snapped at the wet nurse, "Mother sewed this for me! I'm not taking it off!" His voice carried a child's stubbornness, but also an indescribable ferocity. The wet nurse was about to say more when Xie Run interjected, "The Eldest Young Master is not young anymore. Don't push him—coax him gently, reason with him, and he'll come around eventually." "Besides, he's wearing extra clothes, not fewer. There's no need to worry about him catching a chill." "If he's truly hot, he won't insist on keeping the garment on." The wet nurse dared not say more and only bowed respectfully. "This servant thanks the Consort for her guidance." Xie Run said nothing more and turned to leave with her people. But after only two steps, she suddenly stopped in place. Dantao asked in confusion, "Mistress, why have you stopped?" Xie Run said casually, "Send someone to check the rockery over there." Dantao immediately grew alert. "Does mistress suspect the wet nurse and the Eldest Young Master of ill intent?" Xie Run smiled. "I was just thinking... I vaguely caught a glimpse of some red marks on the Eldest Young Master's body." Dantao was startled. "They dare to abuse the Eldest Young Master?" "I don't know." But Xie Run understood one thing clearly. The relationship between the wet nurse and the Eldest Young Master was clearly strained. Would she really come all the way to Flying Crane Pavilion to argue with him out of genuine concern for his well-being? Dantao had clearly reached the same conclusion and immediately said, "This servant will personally lead people to investigate!" Xie Run said, "Wait until they leave. I have Zihu here with me, so no need to worry about me." "Yes." By the evening meal, Dantao returned with a composed expression. Only after attending to Xie Run's meal did she place a small stone on the table. Xie Run glanced at it. "Someone tampered with the rockery?" The stone was clearly from the rockery. Dantao nodded. "Flying Crane Pavilion has many rock formations. This servant led people to inspect each one and found a loose spot." "If someone were pushed from above and struck the rocks, they could easily fall down the hill... and likely be seriously injured." Xie Run asked again, "Who do you think did it? The Eldest Young Master or the wet nurse?" Dantao looked troubled. "This servant thinks the wet nurse is more likely, but after seeing the Eldest Young Master today... this servant is no longer certain." "The Eldest Young Master dared to kick the pregnant Side Consort Fang a year ago. It wouldn't be impossible for him to do something even more frightening now." Xie Run said, "Send word to the front courtyard—have someone keep an eye on the wet nurse and the Eldest Young Master... say we suspect Prince An has planted people among them." Although Xie Run held the token in her hand, she could not casually use it to dispatch people. For now, notifying the front courtyard was merely a reminder; the main responsibility still lay with those managing the front courtyard. "What about the rear courtyard?" Dantao said. "Why not have the servants repair the rockery earlier?" Xie Run did not respond, instead asking another question: "Tell me, who do you think they're trying to scheme against?" Dantao paused, lowering her eyes to think carefully. "If they mean to harm someone, it depends on who would pass by Feihe Pavilion." This place was remote. Aside from Xie Run's Chunshan Courtyard, Concubine Lu's Qingfeng Courtyard, and Fang Yuan'er's Songya Courtyard, no one else would normally take this path. But Fang Yuan'er was currently not in the residence, having entrusted her child to her personal maid, and she rarely left her quarters. That left only Concubine Lu and Xie Run. Dantao said, "Concubine Lu poses no threat to anyone. They must be plotting against you, mistress!" Xie Run shook her head. "Not necessarily." "On ordinary days, few people pass by Feihe Pavilion." "But Dantao, you've forgotten—the day after tomorrow is Taotao's birthday, and everyone from every courtyard will come here." Dantao was startled, then suddenly said, "If they mean to harm someone, the trap on the rockery could hurt anyone. But if we consider who would cause the greatest impact..." Xie Run and Dantao exchanged a glance, and both spoke a name at the same time. "Jiang Baobao!" "Consort Jiang!" In the rear courtyard, only Jiang Baobao was pregnant. If she fell from the rockery, the child would most likely be lost. Dantao continued, "Mistress, you also suspected Consort Jiang of faking her pregnancy. If we push further—could this be a trap set by Consort Jiang herself, to miscarry a child that doesn't exist while dragging someone down with her?" Wasn't this exactly what Concubine Han and Wan Linlang had done before? And it happened to align perfectly with the suspicions of both of them.